What types of jobs are available for foreigners who DO speak Japanese?

Question

I'm adding this to Vickey's question below.

If you're a foreigner who IS fluent at Japanese and willing to learn technical terms in Japanese, then are some of the following professions open to you?

1. Doctor (after a few more years studying Japanese terminology and other stuff for the Japanese medical licence, of course)

2. Laboratory-based researcher
3. University lecturer (there are lots of foreign lecturers here in England, many of whom speak English worse than I speak Japanese)

4. Architect
5. Sales manager
6. Interior designer
7. Public accountant
etc. etc.

In other words, all those jobs that:
- Are classified as "professional",
- Require at least a Master's degree (e.g. MBA) or professonal degree (e.g. for Medicine or Architecture)
- Pay well and require lots of thinking.

These sorts of professions.

Are they open to foreigners skilled in Japanese, like they are open in the UK to highly-educated foreigners who speak English?

Or, how about engineer or technician in one of the giants like Hitachi, Panasonic, and Mitsubishi Denki?

Haha... I could get first grade ++ on the Kanji proficiency test if I try hard. Hey, I'm Chinese, I use more kanji than you *wink wink* (But yeah, we use some different ones, so that's why I'll have to study ^_~)

Answer 1

Well, you sort of answered your own question there, but I would have to say that you would be like a fish going up stream. Competition for domestic job in career oriented fields is extremely tough, but it is by no means impossible. If you got the gift in a certain field, go for it.

If you are "close to native" (1st grade on the Japanese proficiency test and Kanji proficiency test or better)as far as Japanese ability, sky's the limit. That is of course providing you have all the necessary visa's etc.

Answer 2

7-11 might hire you... Clubs in Roppongi are always looking for people who are bilingual, Tower Records maybe, if you are female a hostess club...

As a foreigner, you would be better off getting a job with a company from your country that has an office in Japan rather than trying to get hired on with a Japanese company. The talent pool of educated and native Japanese is big and hard for a foreign person to get accepted into...

Answer 3

Depens on what type of skill you have. Being able to speak Japanese really isn't much of a benefit since you are in Japan but being able to speak english is.
Also, you REALLY need to be skilled because too many people "say" they can speak Japanese when they can't. Also, as same as USA, you need a working visa to work in Japan which can be hard to obtain.
Japanese medical license is VERY difficult to obtain, probablly impossible for a foreigner. You will need to be able to read all the kanjis.

Answer 4

I wouldnt say "the shy is the limit." Japanese are very prejudice, so unless you look or are part Japanese you probably have a Snow Ball's Chance in Hell" of getting a good job. The Government even has a rule that citizens of nonJapanese ancestory can only reach a certain level in government positions despite their qualifications.